Residents and businesses across York are being invited to take part in an important new statutory consultation being launched today.
City of York Council has been asked by North Yorkshire Police to approve its recommendation for a permanent Anti Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) for the city centre. As this has the potential to change access to roads and pavements in the city centre, it requires a change in highways regulations and so needs a statutory consultation period before the Council’s Executive makes a decision.
The consultation is open for eight weeks, from Wednesday 18 March to Wednesday 13 May.
ATTROs are in place or being considered in cities across the UK and their aim is to reduce the risk or possible impact of terrorist attacks on or near a road.
York has previously been placed under a temporary ATTRO for events such as the Christmas Market; this proposal is for a permanent ATTRO which allows the council to react immediately to a recommendation from the Police, rather than waiting for a temporary order to be processed. It would remain dormant for most of the time and only be activated, once recommended by the Police, when intelligence or events require the risk of a terrorist attack to be mitigated by restricting access to an area.
The area under the recommendation from North Yorkshire Police is shown on a map within consultation materials and has the aim of protecting people in the city centre.
It extends outside the area currently protected by permanent Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures, to include High Petergate, Duncombe Place, Precentor’s Court, Deangate (to its junction with College Street) and College Street.
A full version of the statutory documents, as well as an FAQ and Easy Read version, plus maps, are all available via our website or by request. Copies will also be made available in all York Explore and libraries, in addition to the Notice of Proposal being published in local press and on-street within the proposed area.